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No. 5n 11 



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mE PRINCESS in the FAIRY TALE 

H GarDen f atr^ Stotig for Cbtlbretx 
in ®ne Bet 

BY 

CONSTANCE WILCOX 

Princess Pignatelli 



Copyright, 1919, by Constance Wilcox 
Copyright, 1920, by Henry Holt & Company 

(In a volume "Told in a Chinese Garden" and four other Fantastic 
Plays for outdoors or indoors) 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

i 
11 

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the copyright laws of the United States of America, the British || 
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of the Copyright Union, is. subject to a royalty, and anyone || 
presenting the play without the consent of the author or her || 
authorized agents will l>e liable to the penalties by law provided. || 
Applications for the professional and amateur acting rights must H 
be made to Samuel French, 25 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. || 



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THE PRINCESS 
IN THE FAIRY TALE 

A GARDEN FAIRY STORY FOR CHILDREN 
IN ONE ACT 

BY 

CONSTANCE WILCOX 

Princess Pignatelli 



Copyright, 1919, by Constance Wilcox 
Copyright, 1920, by Henry Holt & Company 

(In a volume "Told in a Chinese Garden" and four other Fantastic 
Plays for outdoors or indoors) 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



CAUTION. — Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that 
"The Princess in the Fairy Tale," being fully protected under 
the copyright law§ of the United States of America, the British 
Empire, including the Dominion of Canada, and in all countries 
of the Copyright Union, is subject to a royalty, and anyone 
presenting the play without the consent of the author or her 
authorized agents will be liable to the penalties by law provided. 
Applications for the professional and amateur acting rights must 
be made to Samuel French, 25 West 4Sth Street, New York, N» Y. 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

Publisher 
25 WEST 45th STREET 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



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T S3 54* 5" 

THE PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



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a if 



DEDICATED WITH LOVE 
TO 

ETHEL WILCOX 
The Original Princess in the Fairy Tale 



THE PRINCESS 
IN THE FAIRY TALE 

ORIGINAL PROGRAM 

A GARDEN FAIRY STORY FOR CHILDREN 

CHARACTERS 
The Princess in the Fairy Tale - Ethel Wilcox 
The Old Nurse - - - Luck Andrews 

The Dragon - - - Rudolph Willard 

The Prince in the Fairy Tale - J. Andrews 

Billy Travers - - - - Ben Perkins 

The King in the Fairy Tale - Lionel Perkins 
The Queen in the Fairy Tale - Constance Wilcox 

The Little Princesses— Betty Wilcox, Mary Hotchkiss, 
Mary Low, Ann Hart, Cynthia Harts 

The Heralds— William Harts, W. Low 

SCENE. A Garden in a Fairy Tale. 
TIME. A Summer Afternoon. 



Given at Madison, Connecticut 



THE PRINCESS IN 
THE FAIRY TALE 



THE PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE ^ 

A Garden Fairy Story for Children 

Scene. A garden in a fairy tale. 
Time. A summer afternoon. 

CHARACTERS 

The Princess in the Fairy Tale. 

The Old Nurse. 

The Dragon. 

The Prince in the Fairy Tale. 

Billy Travers. 

The King in the Fairy Tale. 

The Queen in the Fairy Tale. 

The Six Little Princesses. 

The Two Heralds. 

1 Copyright, 1919, by Constance Wilcox. 



THE PRINCESS IN THE 
FAIRY TALE 

(Note) 

fa jHIS setting is purely fantastic, and meant to 
m be achieved by an indoor production. The 

•^^ suggestions for outdoor production are at the 
end of the play. 

The scene is a garden. Four tall dark cedan 
guard it at the back, and behind their high silhouettes 
is a vague woodland, with slim tree trunks gray against 
a twilight mist, filled with an eerie, dim, mauve light. 
In the foreground, a round fountain, with one bright 
jet of water springing up from its clear pool. The 
Dragon lies by the fountain, his silver scales gleaming 
softly. As he lies, his horned head, with its scales and 
alligator jaw, rests peacefully on his outstretched front 
claws. His eyes are closed, and he is breathing gently, 
a little blue smoke coming from his wide nostrils. 
The little Princess is seated on a low stool by the 
fountain, sevU^ng. She is dressed in a very short white 
ruffled pinafore, with a crown embroidered in one 
corner, and her plump little legs in their white socks 
and black strap slippers are crossed primly before her. 
She has a quantity of beautiful fair hair hanging like 
spun silk, loose over her shoulders, and she wears a 
129 



I30 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

very small high pointed gold crown. Her round pink 
and white face is all screwed up in her attempts at 
sewing as she jabs in and out of her embroidery. 

The Old Nurse sits on a stool a little behind, at 
the right of the Princess. She is very fat, and dressed 
in voluminous leaf brown, with a wide frilly cap fram- 
ing her wrinkled face, topped by a pointed black witch 
hat. 

The light in the garden is clear, and yet very soft, 
with an odd bluish tinge, like the edge of twilight. 
The sky above the dark cedars is a deep twilight blue. 

The Nurse 

{In a droning voice, as her head nods back and forth 

on her ample chest) 

" A moonbeam floateth from the skies — 
Whispering — * Heighho, my dearie; {She sighs sleep- 
ily) 
I would spin a web before your eyes — 
A beautiful web of silver light, 
Wherein is many a wondrous sight 
Of a radiant garden leagues away — 
Where the softly tinkling lilies sway — 
. . . Heighho, my dearie! ' " 

Eugene Field. 

( With a deep sigh, her voice trails away and she sleeps. 
The Dragon joins her with a gentle snore.) 

Princess 
{With a sudden vicious jab of the needle) 
Ouch! {She puts her finger in her mouth,) 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 131 

Nurse 
{Waking with a start, and rushing to the Princess 
shaking her by the shoulder) 
Drat the child! Take your thumb out of your 
mouth! {She fishes a handkerchief out of the Prin- 
cess' pinafore pocket.) And let three drops fall on 
your handkerchief at once! What sort of a Fairy 
Tale Princess are you — to let an opportunity like 
that go to waste. Oh, dear, Oh, dear! {She tries to 
squeeze the Princess' finger over the handkerchief.) 

Princess 

{Jerking her hand away, and sticking her thumb in 
her jnouth again) 
I will put my thumb in my mouth. I will. I will. 
{She beats a tattoo on the stool with her heels.) I 
won't put three drops on my handkerchief to make 
another old fairy tale — so it can be lost, and the 
Dragon eat it, or the pixies steal it, or the Prince find 
it. Of course he would find it and come flourishing 
back with the silly thing to me. They always end the 
same way. I'm tired of 'em. I am. I am! I'm 
sick of being the Princess in the Fairy Tale ! Yah ! 

Nurse 
You can't help that, my dearie, because that's what 
you are, and that's what you must be until the Fairy 
Lands fall into dust. 

Princess 
They're all asleep now. I'm going to run away. 
{She jumps up, and puts her embroidery on the stool.) 



132 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Nurse 
You can't do that, my dearie, because it's all a 
dream, and you are part of it. 

Princess 
{Stamping her foot) 
Then I will wake it up ! 

Nurse 
{With a little chuckle) 
You are part of the Fairy Tale even when you 
lose your temper. The Princess in the Fairy Tale 
can frequently do that. ( The Princess swiftly runs 
out her tongue.) But they never stick out their 
tongue. No. No. Naughty. 

Princess 
{Jumping up and down) 
I will be naughty! My foot's asleep. And I'm 
tired of being the sweet little Princess with golden 
hair, who waits around and waits around, and never 
does anything interesting, but sits in a tower window 
or under a tree with a dragon, and is rescued each 
evening by the same little sissy Prince ! 

Nurse 
That's what makes the Fairy Tales. We each have 
our part to play. {She tries to straighten ihe Prin- 
cess' pinafore.) Now you mustn't get your clean 
pinafore all mussed, and your hair tumbled. It's al- 
most time for the afternoon Story of the Dragon. I 
heard the owl hoot the first three times in the wood. 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 133 

That means the Prince has started on his journey. 
He'll be here soon. 

Princess 
{Jerking away as the Nurse tries to arrange her hair) 
I don't want him to come. I don't want my hair 
smoothed. It's always being brushed, and fussed with, 
and last time the little silly tried to climb to the tower 
window on it he pulled dreadfully! 

Nurse 
{Soothingly) 
But think how nice to be rescued from the dragon, 
and have all the trumpets blow, and the King and 
Queen come into the garden and order the cannon 
shot off, and the banquet — and the march of triumph 
around the dreadful dragon. 

Princess 
He isn't a bit dreadful. He just sleeps and never 
even looks at me. He isn't half the nuisance the 
Prince is. I wish he would beat the Prince up for 
once. 

Nurse 
Oh, no, no. That wouldn't be according to law. 
And then think of all the festivity when he is van- 
quished ! 

Princess 
I don't think it's fun. And they never let me sit 
up for the banquet — and I hate walking in a silly 
procession and trying to keep off the long trains. And 
I want my tea! 



134 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Nurse 
There. There. Sit down and finish the nice cob- 
web embroidery you are working for the Queen's birth- 
day. It will never be done. You can leave a space 
for the evil Fairy to finish one corner. 

Princess 
{Sitting sulkily) 
Can't I ever have any fun? I want my tea. 

Nurse 
Just you be good, my dearie, and I will get you the 
tea. You shall have it right after the story with the 
Dragon. 

Princess 
With strawberries? 

Nurse 
With strawberries — and sugar comfits. I'll go see 
to them now. Be good. {She puts the Princess' 
crown into place.) Just think of the dragon. He 
never gets any tea. 

{She goes out, briskly at the left, vanishing 
behind the trees. The Princess sews for a 
moment, then stops, looks over her shoulder to 
make sure the Nurse has gone, slips from her 
seat, and tiptoes to The Dragon, who is still 
snoring very softly.) 

Princess 
{In a whisper) 
Dragon! {A little louder, and moving nearer.) 
Dragon ! 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 135 

(The Dragon stirs uneasily, and breathes an 
especially deep snore. The Princess gets 
down softly on her knees, picks a long blade 
of grass J and tickles The Dragon's nose 
with it.) 

Princess 
Dragon! {She tickles his nose.) 

Dragon 
{Moving a little) 
Ur-umph! {He puffs out a lot of blue smoke.) 

Princess 
There's a dear! {She tickles one ear.) 

Dragon 

{In a very deep grumbly, sleepy voice) 
Ur-umph. What d'y want ? 

Princess 
{Sitting back on her heels) 
Wake up, Dragon. 

Dragon 
{Turning a little and opening one eye) 
What for? 'Tisn't time yet. You can't fool me. 
I know it like a book. What y' disturbing me for? 
{He closes his eye again.) 

Princess 
I want to talk to you! {She leans forward and 
tickles his ear.) 



136 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Dragon 
Talk then. But don't whisk that thing about me! 
{He shakes his head peevishly, and opens his eyes.) 

Princess 
{Getting down close to him — in a whisper) 
Dragon. Eat him! 

Dragon 
{With a prodigious yawn, showing his huge Crocodile 
mouth and teeth) 
Eat who? 

Princess 
{Clapping her hands) 
That's it! You have such a beautiful, big, red 
mouth and such long teeth. Eat him for me, Dragon. 
Eat him ! 

Dragon 
{Rolling his eyes at her reproachfulTy) 
I'm not a cannibal. I eat grasshoppers only, and 
precious few and stringy they are since the fairies 
have such a fad for riding them. 

Princess 
Then scare him, Dragon. Open your mouth and 
bellow, and frighten him, so he'll run and never come 
back. 

Dragon 
Who? 

Princess 
The Prince. 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 137 

Dragon 
I couldn't do It. 

Princess 
Oh, yes, you could. You have no idea how soft he 
is, and little and fat. And easily scared! 

Dragon 
But that sharp bright sword of his! He flicks it in 
front of me. And my eyes are weak. 

Princess 
That's all he does. He doesn't know how to use it. 
And he's so used to your just lying down and letting 
him walk on you, that he'd never stop running if you 
just once turned on him and snapped. Oh, do, there's 
a darling, Dragon. Then he wouldn't bother me any 
more. And he is such a tiresome little boy. 

Dragon 
{Reflectively, blinking his eyes) 
I don't see why I should. I don't see what I get 
out of this. {He grumbles deeply.) For that mat- 
ter what do I ever get out of anything, but a few 
hours' sleep and that disturbed — 

Princess 
I am so sorry. But it is so important. As a fa- 
vor — 

Dragon 
I don't see that it is important. Here I am very 
comfortable. What's the use of stirring everything 



138 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

up, and goodness knows what might happen? How 
do I know but he might accidentally jab that sword 
in my eye? And I'm not as spry as I used to be. He 
might beat me anyway. And think of the humiliation 
of that! 

Princess 

He wouldn't. He's the scaredest little thing, 
really ! 

Dragon 

Even at that, where do I come in? Nobody ever 
pays any attention to me anj^vay, and if the Prince 
went away I would lose my job. I can hardly feed 
myself as it is. And no one ever invites me to tea. 
{Runwiatively.) And I have always loved candies. 

Princess 
I will. I will give you half my tea. It's to be a 
lovely one. With strawberries — and sugar — and — 

Dragon 
Candies ? 

Princess 
Comfits. Pink ones. Just chase the Prince a little 
way, Dragon, dear, and you can have all the comfits ! — 
except one. 

Dragon 
How could I get at the Prince? They'd never let 
me do it here. 

Princess 
{Eagerly clasping her hands) 
You could go to meet him. In the wood. And 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 139 

then he would be surprised. He wouldn't have a 
chance. And run! (She laughs.) Just one beauti- 
ful blue snort from you — and my — he would run ! 
I should love to see it. Come. Quick. {She tugs 
at The Dragon's claw, and he slowly lifts himself.) 

Dragon 
I am to have all the comfits. 

Princess 
How greedy. But never mind. Just one switch of 
your tail and a good roar as if you meant it, and 
don't forget to open your beautiful red mouth. {She 
drags him towards the wood.) 

Dragon 

You say he is very gentle? He always looked quite 
vicious to me — with that long sword. 

Princess 
He's really very little — and fat. 

Dragon 
{Doubtfully) 
Well, I hope so. As a matter of fact I never have 
got a good look at him for all we meet every day. 
You see there is so much blue smoke to breathe out, that 
it fogs up the atmosphere, and then he flashes his 
sword, and, as I said, my eyes are a little weak. I 
always close them just as soon as I'm conquered so I can 
sleep as much as possible. 



I40 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Princess 
{Impatiently) 
Yes. Yes. But hurry. You will meet him at the 
edge of the wood. He must be almost there now. 

Dragon 

{Rolling his eyes) 
But how do I know after all I won't mistake him ? 
He's always wearing some new costume, and I'd hate 
to stir up any of those spiteful tempered little pixies. 
They'd prick me all over with thistles. 

Princess 
The pixies never come out till the moon is up. 
And the Prince is the only one who ever comes through 
the fairyland wood. He'll be a little boy without any 
horns on his head like the pixies, and he'll come along 
the highroad between Fairyland and the Outside, and 
turn into the wood. And then, one big snap and a 
growl and blue fire, and you can come down for tea 
with me. And nobody will disturb us. 

Dragon 
Little and fat. You're quite sure he'll run? 



Princess 



Oh, quite. 



Dragon 
Gr-umph. {He puffs out blue smoke.) This is 
quite an adventure. I feel almost young again. 
Gr-umph! {He turns into the wood.) 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 141 

Princess 
{Dancing up and down) 
Isn't it fun! Good-by, Dragon, dear. 

Dragon 
{Turning to look back) 
All the comfits, mind. Don't you eat any before 
I come. 

Princess 
Good-by. Good-by. {She waves, as The Dragon 
slowly crawls through the wood. His silver scales 
gleam for a moment among the trees and then vanish 
in the mists.) 

{There sound three hoots of an owl. The 
Princess turns with a jump, and looks about 
anxiously.) 

Princess 
It isn't time yet, I'm sure. Oh, I hope he isn't too 

late. He's such a ponderous old thing! {She looks 

into the wood after The Dragon.) 

{The Prince in the Fairy Tale enters sud- 
denly from the right, emerging from the bushes. 
He is a plump little boy in a purple Fauntleroy 
suit with a deep lace collar, and a golden sash. 
He wears a little soft velvet cap with a long 
white feather, and his hair falls to his shoulders 
in neat yellow curls. He is very pretty, with 
a dimpled chin, and carries himself with a 
little swagger, pointing out his buckled slippers 
as he walks, A jaunty short velvet cap swings 



142 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

from his shoulders, and in one hand he carries 
a very long unsheathed rapier.) 

Princess 
{Seeing him, with a little cry) 
Oh — now you've spoiled everything! (She ad- 
vances on him.) How did you get here — and it's 
long before the time! 

Prince 
{With a low bow and a sweep of his cap) 
Charming Princess. Behold, the Prince is here. 
{He has some difficulty managing both the very long 
sword and the cap.) 

Princess 

(Plumping down on her little stool) 
I could just cry with vexation! (The Prince puts 
on his cap and takes an airy step, flourishing the 
sword.) Well — how did you do it? Sneak up on 
me like that. You're always doing something silly. 

Prince 
{Loftily) 
My Fairy Godmother met me, if you must know, 
and brought me here in her private chariot. It was 
very nice of her to save me all that walk through the 
wood — and the briars. I would have been a little 
late otherwise. 

Princess 
(Flouncing off the stool) 
Yes. Prinker. You like to have your hair 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 143 

curled. I bet you were trying on lace collars — to 
see which was the most becoming! 

Prince 
{Touching his collar) 
This is a new one. For my birthday. {He flicks 
his sword.) And this, too. {He tries a fencing at- 
titude. ) 

Princess 
Oh — do stop that. I know you can't use it. It's 
ridiculous and as long as you are. 

Prince 
I certainly can. {He looks around.) Why, 
where's the Dragon? 

Princess 
{Clasping her hands and taken aback) 
Oh, dear. You have upset things! 

Prince 
But where is he? 

Princess 
{Recovering herself) 
Why should I know? {She retires and stands 
aloofly looking into the wood.) Your business is to 
rescue me from him. 

Prince 
But what will I do if he isn't here? 



144 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Princess 
{Scornfully) 
You never have any ideas. 

{There comes a sudden bellowing from the 
wood.) 

Prince 
{Jumping back a foot) 
What^s that! 

Princess 
Oh, what can have happened to the Dragon! 

{The bellowing becomes louder, and is min- 
gled with a crashing of a heavy body approach- 
ing rapidly through the wood.) 

Prince 
The Dragon ! 

Princess 
Yes. It's all your fault. Now he may be be- 
witched or eaten some catnip or something, and eat 
us both! {She runs terrified, back to the fountain. 
The Prince leaps away still further.) 

Prince 
But he can't do that! Why, I always must van- 
quish him! 

Princess 
But I've upset everything! Goodness knows what 
will happen. Oh, dear! 

Prince 
This is awful! {He runs to the furthest corner of 
the garden, followed by the Princess. 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 145 

(The Dragon appears, rushing through the 
wood, bellowing and blowing blue smoke. He 
tears down into the garden, howling. A small 
boy leaps after him shouting and throwing 
stones. 

Dragon 
Oh! Oh! Stop him! He's killing me! {He 
races around the fountain in long snakv twists^ fol- 
lowed by the joyously shrieking small boy.) 

Boy 
(Throwing stones) 
Ki-yi ! There's one on your nose ! 

Princess 
(Rushing out and stopping the boy by force) 
Here, you. Don't you treat my Dragon like that! 

Boy 

(Stopping) 
Oh — was it a pet of yours? (He is a sturdy little 
boy with short touseled brown hair, a round freckled 
face, heavy boots and stockings, corduroy knicker- 
bockers, and a rumpled brown shirt.) 

Princess 
It is. You shouldn't throw stones in Fairy Land. 

Prince 
(Stepping out from behind the Princes's) 
It's our Dragon. 



146 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Princess 
And you've been treating it abominably! 

Dragon 
{In a wail) 
You said he was soft — and little — and fat! I 
knew he was vicious! Why, he's made of India rub- 
ber and has the disposition of a wildcat ! I only spoke 
to him, and he was after me like a thousand hawks, 
throwing stones! Soft! Little! Ooh! I'll never 
believe you again! 

Princess 
You got the wrong one, silly. 

Dragon 
I told you my eyes were weak — and I puffed out 
so much smoke nobody could tell. You said the 
Prince was the only boy would come into the wood. 
I'm all over cracks and bruises! Ooh! 

Prince 
{To Dragon) 
What did you let a common trespasser in for? 

Dragon 
I don't want him. {He crawls off, breathing 
heavily, and lies dowm at the jar right,) 

Boy 
Well, he said he wanted to eat me. I met him up 
on the edge of the wood there. And he made faces 
at me, and stuck out his tongue. Of course. {He 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 147 

plunges his hands into his pockets.) No one can 
do that — not even your pet animal. You see that. 
I had to show him. 

Prince 
{Advancing) 
I vanquish him every day. 

Boy 
{Fanning himself with his cap) 
Hot w^ork. 

Prince 
It doesn't disturb me at all. I just come. And he 
lets me walk on him. 

Boy 

You're pretty fond of yourself. Aren't you? 

Princess 
{To the Boy) 
What's your name? 

Boy 
Billy. What's yours? 

Prince 
I am the Prince in the Fairy Tale. 

Billy 
I didn't ask you, curly-locks. {He tarns to the 
Princess.) You seem to have a lot of spunk for a 
girl. And any one with a pet like that would have, 
of course. What is your name? 



148 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Princess 

(Uncertainly) 
I — Vm — not quite sure. 

Billy 
That's funny. (Decidedly.) Well, it ought to be 
Margery. I know a girl at home called Margery 
who has hair like yours. She's a very nice girl. 

Princess 
I think you are a very nice boy. Will you stay 
here with me? 

Prince 
(Pushing in) 
She's the Princess in the Fairy Tale of course, just 
as Fm the Prince. And this is our private Fairy 
Garden. How did you get in, and who are you, and 
don't you know you're trespassing? You must go 
right away. 

Dragon 
Yes. For heaven's sake, don't keep that wild-cat 
in our garden. 

Princess 
I will keep him. I will. (She drags Billy by the 
hand.) He will stay and teach me to throw stones 
nicely as he does. What kingdom did you come from 
Billy? 

Billy 
(His hands in his pockets) 
Why, I live in the little white house by the Gro- 
cery store on Main street. 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 149 

Prince 

Well, you don't belong here. How did you get 
here? 

Billy 

I was just walking along, and I chased a squirrel up 
to the edge of the wood — and then I met this — this 
creature here. And there didn't seem anything for 
me to do but chase him when he stuck out his tongue 
I guess I came pretty far. 

Prince 
You can go back now. 

Princess 
No. You're going to stay here. I like you. You 
can be the Prince. 

Prince 
I am the Prince. I am. I am. 

Princess 

{Taking Billy's arm) 

Prove it then. {She drags Billy away a little.) 

Teach me how to throw stones. I have a golden ball 

to play with. {She takes a golden ball out of her 

pinafore pocket.) 

Prince 
Wait till my Fairy Godmother hears of this! 

Billy 
{Taking the ball) 
You are a sissy. This is a pretty jolly ball. {He 
throws it to the Princess.) 



I50 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Prince 

{Almost weeping with rage) 
I'll call the King and Queen — and Nurse. 

Princess 
{Running joyfully back and forth as she and BiLLY 
throw the ball) 
Don't cry — and muss your curls ! 

Prince 
{Furious) 
Curls yourself! {He throws himself on the Prin- 
cess and pulls her hair violently.) 

Billy 
{Pulling him away) 
Drop that! 

Prince 

{Still clutching the Princess' hair and kicking) 
I won't! I won't! I will pull her hair. She's 
my Princess — and a mean thing to treat me so — 
and you're a big bully and a donkey. {He kicks out 
madly at Billy.) 

Princess 
Beat him up, Billy! {She jumps up and down,) 

Prince 
{Falling on Billy) 
Donkey! Great ugly donkey! 

Billy 
I can't stand that! Donkey yourself. {He tussles 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 151 

with the Prince and throws him.) You would call 
me names! 

{The Prince lies sobbing on the grass, Billy 

on top of him.) 

Prince 
You'll be sorry for this! 

Billy 
{Rising and dusting himself) 
You're not hurt really. I only gave you a little 
punch. 

( The Prince raises himself just enough to pull 
a little tin horn out of his sashj and blow a 
shrill penetrating blast — then throws himself 
down again.) 

Princess 

Oh! Now he has done it! 



Billy 



What's up! 



Princess 
You'll see. Look! (^S^^^ points to the left.) It's 

the King and Queen in the Fairy Tale. Of course 

he had to go and call them! 

{Through trees at the left come slowly the 
King and Queen, very gorgeous in trailing 
gold and ermine robes. They both wear high 
spiked gold crowns and the King carries a 
massive gold scepter. They are followed by 
two heralds in gold and scarlet, with long 



152 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

trumpets, and then six little Princesses in a 
row. The Princesses are all of a height, with 
tiny gold crowns on their long light hair, and 
white gowns reaching to their feet. They wear 
wide blue sashes, and appear very, very young 
indeed. Last, comes The Old Nurse, bear- 
ing a tray with tea and cakes.) 

The Queen 
{Rather peevishly, as the procession approaches) 
It does seem to me that the Dragon was killed very 

early to-day. And I had reached such an interesting 

chapter in my novel. 

The King 
Never mind, my dear. It hardly ever takes more 
than ten minutes to read the aw^ard. 

The Queen 
The trumpets always make my head ache — and the 
cannon — 

The King 
Maybe we can omit the cannon to-day. 

Queen 

Oh, do. 

Princess 
{Watching the procession as it circles toward her in 
a stately way) 
They will be vexed, when they find out. 

Billy 
What's up, especially? 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 153 

Princess 
Everything. It's all twisted and wrong. You're 
here, and the Prince is there, and the Dragon over 
there. They will be annoyed. 

Billy 
Who are they anyhow? 

Princess 
The King ar/d Queen in the Fairy Tale, of course. 
And they have the extra princesses with them, and 
the heralds to trumpet for the defeat of the Dragon 
and the triumph of the Prince — and look at him. 
And they do so hate to have anything go wrong! 

Billy 
But what is it all about? 

Princess 
This is the end of a Fairy Tale day, of course. And 
everything should come out all nice and smooth, and 
the sunset gun go off to announce at the same time 
the death for the day of the Dragon, the freeing of 
the Princess, and the triumph of the Prince — saving 
gunpowder. 

Billy 
So it's a Fairy Tale? 

Princess 
Of course. I'm in It — and you — and everybody. 
We're all a Fairy Tale. 



154 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Billy 
Not much I'm not. I never did care for Fairy 
Tales. 

Princess 
You're in it now. 



Billy 
I guess I'll be going. I never had much to do with 
kings and queens. 

(Billy starts to go, but the King, Que^n 
and the little princesses have made a complete 
semi-circle around the garden, and he brings 
up short.) 

King 
{Putting on spectacles, as he unrolls a scroll in his 
hand) 
What's this? 

Princess 
{Springing after BiLLY, and seizing his hand) 
It's the new Prince! 

Old Nurse 
( Waddling forward with the tray, and putting it down 
on the stool at the right) 
Oh — la — la. Something new. 



Prince 

{Rising with a wail) 
He is not. I am the Prince. 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 155 

Queen 
(Distastefully) 
What a mess he's in. 

Prince 

{Pointing at Billy) 

It's all because of him. He knocked me down. 

He insulted me. He came into the garden uninvited 

and threw stones. He's nothing but a common boy 

from outside. 

King 
Dear. Dear. This is very tiresome. Where's the 
Dragon ? 

Dragon 
{Rolling himself up painfully) 
Here. 

King 
You seem very decently beaten up. 

Dragon 
I am. 

Princess 
And Billy did it. He should be the Prince. 

Prince 
Yes. He came into our garden and threw stones 
at our Dragon. Throw him out! 

Queen 

{Taking out a book from a pocket in her dress) 
Why have so much argument? 



156 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Princess 
I will keep Billy. 

Prince 
But he insulted me, and he is only a common boy, 
and lives next to a grocer! 

Princess 
And he beat you up, too. That shows he's a better 
Prince than you. 

Prince 
But I am the Prince! 

King 
Dear. Dear. This is very unusual. 

Queen 

{Looking up from her book) 

I don't see why it's unusual. It's only in another 

form. Somebody vanquished the Dragon — and at the 

same time, the competing Prince. Therefore — that 

somebody is the real Prince. In disguise, no doubt. 

{She returns to her book) 

King 

{Doubtfully) 
Do you think so, my love? 

Queen 
Certainly. 

Princess 
{Jumping up and down with joy) 
Of course! Of course! 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 157 

King 
Very well then. Sound the trumpets. {The her- 
alds lift their horns,) 

Prince 
But what about me? I am left! Walt till my 
fairy Godmother hears! 

King 
Dear. Dear. This is very upsetting. No one 
should be left. 

Queen 
{Dropping her book to look at the Prince) 
He can have one of the other Princesses. They 
look about his height. 

King 
{Doubtfully) 
But I don't like spoiling the set — 

Queen 
One is sure to be snatched by an Ogre or fall into 
the river sooner or later. She might just as well go 
with this Prince. The Fairy Tale must be completed. 
My dear — {She turns to one of the little Princesses.) 
Here is a Prince for you. Curtsey when you're 
spoken to — and mind you are good to him and keep 
him dusted. He seems to be bent on making a mess 
of himself. {She returns to her book,) 

{ The little Princess steps out, looking shyly at 
the Prince.) 



158 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Prince 
I don't want her. She's a baby. 

King 
(Testily) 
Well — you'll have to take her. You couldn't keep 
the other. Sound the trumpets. 

Queen 
She's very nice tempered — and had all the proper 
gifts at christening. A little attention and society 
will do wonders for her. 

King 

Let the cannon boom as the sun sets. (The her- 
alds sound a blasts and it is followed by a distant 
boom of cannon.) 

Queen 
That's enough. {The heralds put down their 
horns.) 

King 

{Adjusting his spectacles, and reading very rapidly 

from the roll in his hand) 

The Dragon is vanquished. The King and Queen 

rejoice. The trumpets sound. {The heralds sound 

their horns.) And the cannon — 

Queen 
Not again. 

King 
Have boomed. And the Prince — What is your 
name, young man? 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 159 

Billy 
Billy Travers. 

King 
And the Prince Billy Travers — and the Fairy 
Princess — 

Princess 
Margery. I want to be called Margery. 

King 
And the Princess Margery lived happily ever after 
— to the tune of dancing and feasting. {He rolls up 
the paper. The heralds sound a blast.) Let there be 
dancing and feasting. (The heralds produce lutes 
that were slung over their shoulders and play a gay 
tinkling tune.) 

Dragon 
{Rolling up to The Old Nurse, who is standing by 
the tea tray) 
Did you bring out plenty of comfits? 

Nurse 
{Slapping him on the snout) 
Not for you, I didn't. 

King 
{Bowing to Queen) 
May I have the honor, my love? 

Queen 
{Taking his hand) 
Mind you don't step on my train. (She picks this 
up over her arm and she and the KiNG dance,) 



i6o PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Princess 
{Seizing Billy's hands) 
You dance with me. {They whirl around.) 

Dragon 
{Bowing to the Nurse) 
Allow me, Madam. 

Nurse 
{Taking his claw and dancing sedately) 
Remember my age. 

Dragon 
And my joints. (Billy and the Princess join 
them, making a square.) 

Prince 
{To the Little Princess) 
Do you dance? 

Little Princess 
Yeth, pleath. ( They dance with the King and 
Queen, making another four.) 

{The heralds stand at the hack, and the other 
little Princesses dance around the fountain.) 

Prince 
You're not a hoyden. Are you? I think I like 
you best anyway. 

Little Princess 
Yeth, pleath. 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE i6i 

Queen 
{Stopping) 
There. That's enough. My crown is almost 
awry, and we must get to supper before the peacock 
pies are burnt. I faint with hunger. 

King 
Sound the trumpets. {The heralds sound the 
hornsj and turn to go out, followed by the Little 
Princesses.) 

Prince 
{Taking the hand of his Princess) 
We'll sit together at supper; you can save me your 
owls' tongues if you don't happen to care for them. 

Princess 
Yeth. Pleath. {They turn and go out.) 

Billy 
But — 

Dragon 
I don't half like this — 

Queen 
No one ever has anything to say after the end. 

King 
Good-night, my love. Nurse, see that she goes to 
bed particularly early after all this unusual excite- 
ment. The new Prince may stay to tea with her 
as a special treat. {The procession moves slowly 
off.) 



i62 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Princess 
{Jumping up and down) 
Oh, goody! And it does serve that little sissy right 
to get one of my sisters. They are such babies — and 
have never said anything but yes — or no — yet ! 

( The procession winds out of sight. The twi- 
light deepens in the garden.) 

Dragon 

{Curling himself up painfully) 
This is beastly rough on me — This is. I don't 
like my nevi^ boxing partner one bit. {He rolls his 
eyes at Billy.) We'll have to get in a little practice 
on the side, and I'll show you the right spots. 

Billy 
Oh — I won't bother you any more. If — you're 
polite. 

Princess 

You'll have to. Every afternoon — and some- 
times in the morning. But then we can play with the 
Golden Ball between times. It will be fun. 

Billy 



15ILLY 

But I can't stay here, you know 



Princess 

{Running to the tea tray, and dragging it stool 

and all into the foreground) 

Oh, yes — you must. You will stay here forever 

and ever — and we will play with the golden ball — 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 163 

and maybe we'll be allowed to see the fairies dance — 
if they ever do it before sunset. 

Billy 
Excuse me, but I'd rather not. 

Princess 
Why, what do you mean? 

Billy 
I'm — I'm not particularly used to fairies and such. 

Princess 
Oh, I'll tell you all about it — w^hile we have tea. 

Billy 
I don't think I can stay for that. 

Princess 
You can't stay! 

Billy 
Well — it must be about supper time home — and 
mother'U be expecting me. We're to have hot cakes. 
Not but what you've been a very jolly little pal — 
and I thank you and all that. 

Princess 
But he can't go — Can he. Nurse? 

Nurse 
{Who stands, solemnly against the dark cedar) 
The way out of Fairy Land is always open. 



i64 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Billy 
Yes — that's it. I couldn't live in a Fairy Tale, you 
know. Now could I? {He approaches the Princess, 
who looks about to cry.) I don't look as if I would 
go into a Fairy Tale — now do I ? 

Princess 

{Gulping) 
I think you are per-perfectly lovely. And I would 
love to have you for a Prince. But you don't like 
me! 

Billy 
I do. I think you are a very jolly — really corking 
Princess — and just as spunky as if you weren't in a 
silly Fairy Tale at all — 



Oh — do you ? 



Of course I do. 



Princess 
{Brightening) 



Billy 



Princess 
Perhaps — we'll see each other again someday. 
Outside, maybe. I don't intend to always live in a 
Fairy Tale when I grow up. 

Billy 

Perhaps we will. Fairy Tales aren't much. 
Good-by, Princess. {He holds out his hand.) 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 165 

Princess 

Margery — 

Billy 
Good-by, Margery. {They shake hands.) 

Princess 

Good-by. 

(Billy turns towards the wood. The Prin- 
cess follows him to the edge.) 

Billy 
{Turning at the edge of the wood) 
Good-by. 

Princess 
Wait for me — when you get outside! 

Billy 
You bet I will. Good-by. {He disappears among 
the trees.) 

Princess 
Good-by! {She waves — until he is out of sight. 
Then J with a little sob, she breaks down.) And I 
haven't any Prince or anything! 

Dragon 

{Uncoiling himself) 

There are always plenty of Fairy Tale Princes. 

But I dare say you'll run away to this one just the 

same — Violent tempered creature. You never can 

tell what will please a woman. 



i66 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Princess 
{Cheering up, and coming towards him) 
I will. I will. 

Nurse 
Eat your tea now. There's a good girl. Or the 
owls and the pixies will get it — it's that late. 

{She moves off, and disappears in the gather- 
ing darkness, right. A big yellow moon rises 
slowly behind the wood. The weird mists and 
interlacing tree branches and trunks are pricked 
out with light. The fountain glitters very 
bright in a shaft of moonlight, that falls on 
The Dragon, and gleams on the hair of the 
Princess.) 

Dragon 
And what about me? Where's my tea? 

Princess 
You didn't do the right thing at all. 

Dragon 
But I did the best I could. Don't I get any com- 
fits? You promised them all to me. 

Princess 
We will divide them. {She and The Dragon sit 
down to tea.) 

{From the left. The Old Nurse is heard 
singing softly.) 

" A brownie stealeth from the vine, 



PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 167 

Singing, ' Heigho, my dearie, 
And will you hear this song of mine — 
A song of the land of murk and mist 
Where bideth the bud the dew hath kissed ? 
Then let the moonbeams' web of light 
Be spun before thee silvery white, 
And I shall sing the livelong night — 
Heigho — my dearie ! ' " 

[Curtain] 



i68 PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

FOR OUTDOOR PRODUCTION OF THE 
PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

Any garden, or any woodland, can of course be used 
for this play. The setting given is only a suggestion, 
and naturally could not be achieved in anything but 
an indoor production. 

For an outdoor garden production, the initial en- 
trance of the Princess, the Nurse and the Dragon, 
could be made in a sort of little procession through 
the garden. The Princess first, sew^ing as she walks, 
the Nurse following, singing softly, and the Dragon 
trailing grumpily some distance behind. They could 
take their places, the Nurse and the Princess on their 
little stools, and the Dragon sleeping by the fountain 
and the play start just as it is given. 

For a final exit, the Princess and the Dragon could 
walk off hand in hand, the Princess holding the tea 
tray, and the Dragon eating a cake as he walks. 



THE PRINCESS IN THE FAIRY TALE 

NOTES ON SCENERY AND COSTUMES FOR 

AMATEURS 

The Princess' costume is very simple. Any little 
white ruffled frock, very short with a wide blue sash. 
The little high spiked crown can be cut from cardboard 
and gilded. The smaller it is, the better. She wears 
socks and black strap slippers. Of course it is nice to 
have a real little girl act the Princess, but since the 
whole weight of the play falls on her, she must really 
be an excellent little actress, and often a somewhat 
older, small actress can be made to look very young 
and hold the play together better. 

The Old Nurse can wear any of a variety of 
costumes according to what is most picturesque and 
becoming. The black pointed witch's hat can be made 
of black paper and cardboard easily, copied from any 
picture of Mother Goose or Fairy Tale Witch, but if 
this is unbecoming, a wide frilled cap will do, or any 
high fantastic hat in keeping with the costume. In 
one case, the high peaked hat was swathed in soft 
brown veils, drawn down about the chin Mediaeval 
fashion, and matching the soft brown of the voluminous 
costume. As long as it is kept in mind that she is a 
Fairy Nurse and quite old and wise, that is all that 
is necessary. 

The Dragon costume is not so difficult if it is 
approached bravely and with simplicity. His suit can 
be made of two shades of green paper muslin, cut to 
represent scales. Here and there can be sewn other 
scales of silver paper. His feet and hands must be 
encased in huge paw-like gloves of the same stuff, and 
a long, stuffed tail, also scaled, attached in back. This 
tail can be made very effective, attached to the body 
by a sort of spiked vertebrae running up the back, made 



of a series of points of the green, stuffed out and tipped 
with the silver paper. His head of course must be 
entirely masked. An old theatrical animal's head can 
serve for this, painted green and silver, with fantastic 
tongue, and spiked crest added. He can smoke a 
cigarette to give the effect of breathing fire — and must 
have a very deep, grumbling voice. 

The King and Queen should be dressed more 
or less alike. Gold and white is a good combination, 
although any coloring that fits in with the scenery is 
possible. Their costumes should be fantastic to a 
degree, and copied, if possible, from some good Fairy- 
tale illustration. Their crowns should be exaggerated 
spiked affairs, and period should be utterly disregarded 
in true Fairy-tale custom. However, they must have 
a certain dignity and not be too grotesque. Ermine 
can be made of white cotton, with black tails either 
sewn or painted on, and the King and Queen both 
could have white wigs, either real or made of cotton. 
Long trains for both of them are very effective. These 
costumes do not need to be at all expensive, the simplest 
materials being perfectly suitable, but they must be 
striking in efiect and coloring. 

The Prince w^ears a little Fauntleroy costume with 
a lace collar, and a little plumed velvet hat. He 
should have long curls, and often it is found that a 
girl can take the part. If not a velvet suit he could 
wear one of blue satin with a little cape — anything 
that will give him an effeminate yet charming air. 

The Little Princesses can be very little girls. 
They should all be of exactly one height, and if pos- 
sible the same color fair hair. They are prettier 
without wigs. They should wear long straight white 
dresses, to their ankles, with tiny puff sleeves in Kate 
Greenaway pattern, and wide blue sashes. They all 
have tiny gold crowns. 

The Heralds wear tunics with Heraldric design. 



These can be made of brilliant yellow and white and 
scarlet paper muslin with black design painted on. 
They have bowl-cut wigs, and little plumed caps. 
They have very long trumpets gilded. These can be 
made of wood or cardboard and need not of course be 
practical — the trumpter being hid behind the scenes. 
They wear tights of scarlet and yellow or yellow and 
white. 

Billy Travers wears the simplest of average boy 
costumes — preferably a little shabby, and khaki shirt 
and corduroy knickers. 

SCENERY 

In an outdoor setting, any garden or wood as is 
stated in the Note at the end of the play can be used, 
but care must be taken not to have any signs of civili- 
zation in the background. It is better to have it in 
a wood than in a garden where a house is obviously 
near. 

For an indoor production a simple setting is just a 
deep blue cyclorama, well lighted, with silhouettes of 
four cypress trees cut from paper or bristol board, dark 
against it, and a row of conventionalized flowers at 
their base. The fountain is not necessary, although it 
is pretty. This is a Fairy Play and any attempt at 
realism in the scenery of an indoor production is a 
mistake. Much can be done with the lighting, but the 
fewer ordinary properties there are the better, 



THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY. 

The famous comedy in three acts, by Anne Warner. 7 males, t 
females. Three interior scenes. Costumes modern. Plays 2% hours. 

This is a genuinely funny comedy with splendid parts for "Aunt Mary," 
"Jack," her lively nephew; "Lucinda," a New England, ancient maid of all work; 
"Jack's" three chums; the Girl "Jack" loves; "Joshua," Aunt Mary's hired 
man, etc. 

"Aunt Mary" was played by May Robson in New York and on tour for over 
two years, and it is sure to be a big success wherever produced. We strongl^f 
recommend it. Price, 60 Ceats 

MRS. BUMSTEAD-LEIGH. 

A pleasing comedy, in three acts, by Harry James Smith, author of 
"The Tailor-Made Man." 6 males, 6 females. One interior scene. Cos- 
tumes modern. Plays 2J4 hours. 

Mr. Smith chose foi^ his initial comedy the complications arising from the 
endeavors of a social climber to land herself in the altitude peopled by hyphenated 
names— a theme permitting innumerable complications, according to the spirit of 
the writer. 

This most successful comedy was toured for several seasons by Mrs. Fiske 
with enormous success. Price, 60 Cents. 

MRS. TEMPLE'S TELEGRAM. 

A most. successful farce in three acts, by Frank Wyatt and William 
Morris. 5 males, 4 females. One interior scene stands throughout the 
three acts. Costumes modern. Plays 2J^ hours. 

"Mrs. Temple's Telegram" is a sprightly farce in which there is an abund- 
ance of fun without any taint of impropriety or any element of offence. As 
noticed by Sir Walter Scott, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we 
practice to deceive I" 

There is not a dull moment in the entire farce, and from the time the curtainl 
rises until it makes the final drop the fun is fast and furious. A very exceptional 
farce. Price, 60 Cents; 

THE NEW CO-ED. 

A comedy in four acts, by Marie Doran, author of "Tempest and 
Sunshine," etc. Characters^ 4 males, 7 females, though any number of 
boys and girls can be introduced in the action of the play. One interior 
and one exterior scene, but can be easily played in one interior scene. 
Costumes modern. Time, about 2 hours. 

The theme of this play is the coming of a new student to the college, her 
reception by the scholars, her trials and final triumph. 

There are three especially good girls' parts, Letty, Madge and Estelle, but 
the others have plenty to do. "Punch" Doolittle and George Washington Watts, 
a gentleman of color, are two particularly good comedy characters. We can 
strongly recommend "The New Co-Ed" to high schools and amateurs. 

Price, 30 Cents. 

(The Above Are Subject to Royalty When Produced) 
SAMUEL FRENCH, 25 West 45th Street, New York City 

New and Explicit Descriptive Catalogue Mailed Free on Request 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

DOROTHY'S NEIGHBO llillllliilillilllii 

018 360 597 5 4 
A brand new comedy in four acts, by Marie Doran, author of "The 
New Co-Ed," "Tempest and Sunshine," and many other successful plays. 
4 males, 7 females. The scenes are extremely easy to arrange ; two plain 
interiors and one exterior, a garden, or, if necessary, the two interiors 
will answer. Costumes modern. Plays SH hours. 

The story is about vocational traini«g, a subject now widely discussed; also, 
the distribution of large wealth. 

Back of the comedy situation and snappy dialogue there is good logic and 
I sound moral in this pretty play, which is worthy the attention of the experi- 
enced amateur. It is a clean, wholesome play, particularly suited to high school 
production. Prjcc, 30 Cents. 

MISS SOMEBODY ELSE. 

A modem play in four acts by Marion Short, author of "The Touch- 
down," etc. 6 males, 10 females. Two interior scenes. Costumes mod- 
ern. Plays 2J^ hours. 

This delightful comedy has gripping dramatic moments, unusual character 
types, a striking and original plot and is essentially modern in theme and treat- 
ment. The story concerns the adventures of Constance Darcy, a multi-million- 
aire's young daughter. Constance embarks on a trip to find a young man who 
had been in her father's employ and had stolen a large sum of money. She 
almost succeeds, when suddenly all traces of the young man are lost. At this 
point she meets some old friends who are living in almost want and, in order to 
assist them through motives benevolent, she determines to sink her own aristo- 
cratic personality in that of a refined but humble little Irish waitress with the 
family that are in want. She not only carries her scheme to success in assisting 
the^ family, but finds romance and much tense and lively adventure during the 
period of her incognito, aside from capturing the young man who had defrauded 
her father. The story ,s full of bright comedy lines and dramatic situations and 
IS hiRhly recommended for amateur production. This is one of the best come- 
dies we have ever offered with a large number of female characters. The dialogue 
II T^.''* • ^^^ P^^y ^s ^"" °f action from start to finish; not a dull moment in 
LVnrd ,'-ii'^ 1^ ^'■^fv ^°™«^y f°^ y^sli schools and colleges, and the wholesome 
story will please the parents and teachers. We strongly recommend it. 

Price, 30 Cents 

PURPLE AND FINE LINEN. 

An exceptionally pretty comedy of Puritan New England, in three 
acts, by Amita B. Fairgrieve and Helena Miller. 9 male, 5 female char- 
acters. 

This is the Lend A Hand Smith College prize play. It is an admirable play 
for amateurs, is rich in character portrayal of varied types and is not too difficult 
while thoroughly pleasing. Price, 30 Cents. 

(The Above Are Subject to Royalty When Produced) 
SAMUEL FRENCH, 25 West 45th Street, New York City 

New and Explicit Descriptive Catalogue Mailed Free on Request 



